Written by Thomas Esamie.
| Australia begin 2018 with participation in the Algarve Cup, a 12-nation tournament in 3 groups of 4. Australia was paired with China, Norway and Portugal after a reshuffle took place to avoid the original scheduling with South Korea who are in Australia's group in the AFC Cup tournament later in the year. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : February 28 | Venue : Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufiera, Portugal | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Elise Kellond-Knight, Clare Polkinghorne, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna (Larissa Crummer 75), Katrina-Lee Gorry, Tameka Butt (Michelle Heyman 88), Chloe Logarzo, Samantha Kerr Goals : Polkinghorne 13, Logarzo 24, Kerr 31, Crummer 90 |
4 | - | 3 | Norway Ingrid Hjelmseth, Ingrid Moe Wold, Kristine Minde, Ina Gausdal, Maria Thorisdottir, Vilde Risa (Ingrid Engen 46), Caroline Hansen, Ingvild Isaksen (Ingrid Spord 66), Guro Reiten (Emilie Haavi 85), Elise Thorsnes (Ingrid Ryland 86), Lisa-Marie Utland (Synne Jensen 67) Goals : Thorsnes 11, 61pk, Utland 52 |
| Referee : Monika Mularczyk (Poland) Attendance : 100 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Martin Sjogren (Norway) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 2 | Venue : Estadio Algarve, Algarve, Portugal | |||
| Portugal Ines Pereira, Ana Borges, Dolores Silva, Carole Costa, Raquel Infante, Tatiana Pinto, Claudia Neto (Melissa Antunes 85), Carolina Mendes (Andreia Norton 56), Vanessa Marques, Diana Silva (Nadia Gomes 66), Jessica Silva (Ana Leite 84) |
0 | - | 0 | Australia Lydia Williams, Hannah Brewer (Emily Condon 60 (Alexandra Chidiac 69)), Ellie Carpenter, Clare Polkinghorne, Alanna Kennedy, Elise Kellond-Knight, Larissa Crummer (Lisa de Vanna 46), Katrina-Lee Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Chloe Logarzo, Michelle Heyman (Samantha Kerr 46) |
| Referee : Jonesia Kabakama (Tanzania) Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Francisco Neto (Portugal) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Despite this win it wasn't quite enough to qualify for the final and Australia were heading to the 3rd place playoff against Portugal. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 5 | Venue : Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufiera, Portugal | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Elise Kellond-Knight, Laura Alleway, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond (Michelle Heyman 67), Lisa De Vanna (Rachel Lowe 85), Chloe Logarzo, Katrina-Lee Gorry (Alexandra Chidiac 67), Larissa Crummer, Samantha Kerr Goals : Logarzo 51, Kerr 90 |
2 | - | 0 | China Wang Fei, Liu Shanshan, Xue Jiao, Wu Haiyan, Li Danyang, Ren Guixin, Xu Yanlu (Song Duan 75), Zhang Rui (Ma Jun 85), Wang Shuang (Yan Jinjin 87), Li Ying, Wang Shanshan (Jin Kun 85) |
| Referee : Laura Fortunato (Argentina) Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjolfsson (China) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| For the first time in nearly a year the Matildas lost a match and finished the tournament in 4th place. In terms of preparation for the Asian Cup it was a valuable exercise and if it's another year before the Matildas lose their next game then I think that's fine. Also maybe some penalty taking practice. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 2 | Venue : Albufeira Municipal Stadium, Albufiera, Portugal | |||
| Portugal Ines Pereira, Ana Borges, Monica Mendes (Matilde Fidalgo 46), Carole Costa, Raquel Infante (Silvia Rebelo 65), Dolores Silva, Tatiana Pinto (Fatima Pinto 88), Vanessa Marques, Andreia Norton (Carolina Mendes 79), Laura Luis (Jessica Silva 46), Nadia Gomes (Diana Silva 46) Goals : Gomes 38, Marques 56 |
2 | - | 1 | Australia Lydia Williama, Hannah Brewer (Laura Alleway 78), Larissa Crummer (Emily van Egmond 59), Caitlin Cooper (Alanna Kennedy 67), Clare Polkinghorne, Elise Kellond-Knight, Tameka Butt, Alexandra Chidiac (Katrina Gorry 67), Lisa De Vanna, Chloe Logarzo, Michelle Heyman (Samantha Kerr 59) Goal : Cooper 45 |
| Referee : Ekaterina Koroleva (USA) Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Francisco Neto (Portugal) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Announced on Valentine's Day this match was billed as the farewell match before the Matildas head off to contest the Asian Championships in Jordan. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : March 26 | Venue : Perth Oval | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Larissa Crummer (Michelle Heyman 76), Elise Kellond-Knight (Aivi Luik 76), Clare Polkinghorne, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond (Ellie Carpenter 55), Katrina-Lee Gorry (Caitlin Cooper 84), Alexandra Chidiac, Samantha Kerr (Laura Alleway 56), Lisa De Vanna, Chloe Logarzo (Tameka Butt 46) Goals : Chidiac 6, De Vanna 42, 52, Logarzo 44, Crummer 72 |
5 | - | 0 | Thailand Waraporn Boonsing, Warunee Phetwiset (Ainon Phancha 90), Sunisa Srangthaisong, Duangnapa Sritala (Pitsamai Sornsai 17), Natthakarn Chinwong, Pikul Khueanpet, Taneekarn Dangda (Suchawadee Nildhamrong 54), Silawan Intamee (Wilaiporn Boothduang 88), Rattikan Thongsombut (Saowalak Pengngam 88), Orathai Srimanee (Nipawan Punyosuk 62), Kanjana Sung-Ngoen |
| Referee : Kate Jacewicz (Australia) Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Nuengrutai Srathongvian (Thailand) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia were drawn in group B alongside Japan, South Korea and Vietnam in what was clearly a much more difficult group than Group A comprising Jordan, China, Thailand and the Philippines. Given the top 5 sides would progress to the World Cup in France the next year one can't help but feel somebody's going to get hurt. This was a AFC Championship match. | ||||
| Played : April 7 | Venue : King Abdullah Stadium II, Amman, Jordan | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo (Emily Gielnik 87), Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna (Kyah Simon 71), Tameka Butt, Hayley Raso (Alanna Kennedy 56), Katrina-Lee Gorry, Samantha Kerr |
0 | - | 0 | South Korea Yoon Young-Guel, Kim Do-Yeon, Lim Seon-Joo, Lee Mi-na (Kim Hye-Ri 73), Cho So-Hyun, Ji So-Yun, Jung Seol-Bin (Son Hwa-Yeon 88), Jang Sel-Gi, Lee Young-Ju, Han Chae-Rin (Jeon Ge-Eul 46), Lee Geum-Min |
| Referee : Attendance : 230 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Yoon Dukyeo (South Korea) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Japan had beaten Vietnam 4-0 on Matchday 1 so it was important to ensure the Goal difference side of things was taken care of... particularly given on matchday 2 the oher two sides had a 0-0 draw. This was a AFC Championship match. | ||||
| Played : April 10 | Venue : Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway, Emily Gielnik, Emily van Egmond (Katrina-Lee Gorry 58), Chloe Logarzo, Elise Kellond-Knight (Aivi Luik 73), Kyah Simon, Alexandra Chidiac, Samantha Kerr (Hayley Raso 58) Goals : Simon 8, Kennedy 18, Logarzo 21, van Egmond 28, Kerr 44, 51, Raso 71, 75 |
8 | - | 0 | Vietnam Khong Thi Hang, Pham Thi Tuoi, Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Tran Thi Hong Nhung, Tran Thi Phuong Thao (Chuong Thi Kieu 32), Thai Thi Thao (Nguyen Thi Muon 46), Pham Hoang Quynh, Nguyen Thi Lieu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Huynh Nhu, Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang (Pham Hai Yen 83) |
| Referee : Attendance : 401 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Chung Mai Duc (Vietnam) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Vietnam finished last in the group winless and the other 3 sides all ended up on 5 points. Australia won out top spot to face Thailand on the semis while Japan have to play China in the other. South Korea are out of the Cup but play one more match against the Philippines to determine the 5th placed side and the final World Cup qualification spot for France 2019. This was a AFC Championship match. | ||||
| Played : April 13 | Venue : Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Ellie Carpenter, Stephanie Catley, Clare Polkinghorne, Alanna Kennedy, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna (Hayley Raso 51), Katrina-Lee Gorry (Kyah Simon 70), Tameka Butt, Samantha Kerr, Chloe Logarzo Goal : Kerr 86 |
1 | - | 1 | Japan Ayaka Yamashita, Risa Shimizu, Aya Sameshima, Saki Kumagai, Nana Ichise, Rumi Utsugi, Emi Nakajima, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Yui Hasegawa (Rika Masuya 83), Yuika Sugasawa, Mana Iwabuchi Goal : Sakaguchi 63 |
| Referee : Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Asako Takakura (Japan) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia face Thailand again but this time a place in the final was up for grabs. This was a AFC Championship match. | ||||
| Played : April 17 | Venue : King Abdullah Stadium II, Amman, Jordan | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway (Stephanie Catley 46), Emily Gielnik (Samantha Kerr 70), Chloe Logarzo, Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina-Lee Gorry, Kyah Simon, Lisa De Vanna, Alexandra Chidiac (Emily van Egmond 68) Goals : Saengkoon 17og, Kennedy 90 Penalties : van Egmond (miss), Kellond-Knight, de Vanna (saved), Catley, Kerr |
2 aet |
- | 2 aet |
Thailand Waraporn Boonsing, Ainon Phancha, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Kanjanaporn Saengkoon, Natthakarn Chinwong, Wilaiporn Boothduang (sent off 87), Taneekarn Dangda, Pikul Khueanpet (Alisa Rukpinji 120), Rattikan Thongsombut (Warunee Phetwiset 86), Kanjana Sung-Ngoen (Pitsamai Sornsai 119), Silawan Intamee Goals : Sung-Ngoen 20, Thongsombut 63 Penalties : Phancha, Srangthaisong (saved), Intamee (saved), Sornsai (saved) |
| Referee : Edita Mirabidova (Uzbekistan) Attendance : 166 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Nuengrutai Srathongvian (Thailand) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Japan easily got past China to set up a rematch with the Matildas for the championship and managed to save a penalty and withstand a number of attacks in the first half to slowly get into the match and finally snatch the winning goal near the end of the game. This was the AFC Championship match. | ||||
| Played : April 21 | Venue : Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo, Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna (Kyah Simon 60), Tameka Butt, Alanna Kennedy, Samantha Kerr, Ellie Carpenter |
0 | - | 1 | Japan Ayaka Yamashita, Rumi Utsugi, Aya Sameshima, Saki Kumagai, Nana Ichise, Emi Nakajima, Mana Iwabuchi, Mizuho Sakaguchi, Yuika Sugasawa ( Kumi Yokoyama 72), Yui Hasegawa, Risa Shimizu Goal : Yokoyama 84 |
| Referee : Ri Hyang-Ok (North Korea) Attendance : 3065 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Asako Takakura (Japan) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia was again invited to the Tournament of Nations to defend their title as champions and kicked off their campaign against Brazil. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 26 | Venue : Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, USA | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo (Caitlin Foord 86), Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Butt (Alex Chidiac 75), Alanna Kennedy, Hayley Raso (Lisa de Vanna 69), Kyah Simon (Katrina Gorry 58), Sam Kerr (Mary Fowler 90), Ellie Carpenter Goals : Poliana 9og, Butt 38, Kerr 50 |
3 | - | 1 | Brazil Barbara Micheline do Monte Barbosa; Daiane Menezes Rodrigues (Kathellen Sousa Feitoza 82), Thaisa de Moraes Rosa Moreno, Tamires Cassia Dias Gomes (Joyce Magalhaes Borini 75), Debora Cristiane de Oliveira, Marta Vieira da Silva, Poliana Barbosa Medeiros, Beatriz Zaneratto Joao, Andressa Cavalari Machry (Camila Martins Pereira 62), Thais Duarte Guedes (Adriana Leal da Silva 54), Monica Hickmann Alves Goal : Debinha 79 |
| Referee : Christina Unkel (USA) Attendance : 10307 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Oswaldo Fumeiro Alvarez (Brazil) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| Next up the hosts. A disciplined team taking a chance when it was presented and holding out the USA who had the bulk of the play worked for 89 minutes. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 29 | Venue : Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, USA | |||
| United States Alyssa Naeher, Emily Sonnett (Casey Short 79), Abby Dahlkemper (Rose Lavelle 79), Becky Sauerbrunn, Crystal Dunn (Carli Lloyd 87), Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Morgan Brian (McCall Zerboni 63), Tobin Heath (Christen Press 74), Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe Goal : Horan 90 |
1 | - | 1 | Australia Lydia Williams; Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo (Caitlin Foord 85), Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna (Kyah Simon 58), Tameka Butt, Alanna Kennedy, Hayley Raso (Emily Gielnik 90), Samantha Kerr (Katrina Gorry 90), Ellie Carpenter Goal : Logarzo 22 |
| Referee : Miriam Leon (Slovenia) Attendance : 21570 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Jillian Ellis (USA) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia completed the tournament with a re-match of the Asian Cup Final only a few months earlier. The win ensure that Australia was in with a shout at the championship with the USA-Brazil match still to play and despite the Brazilians going 1-0 up the USA won 4-1 to claim top spot with a superior goal difference. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : August 2 | Venue : Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois, USA | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Hayley Raso, Clare Polkinghorne (Larissa Crummer 29), Alanna Kennedy, Ellie Carpenter, Elise Kellond-Knight, Katrina Gorry (Alexandra Chidiac 79), Chloe Logarzo (Caitlin Foord 68), Kyah Simon (Amy Sayer 90), Lisa de Vanna (Emily Gielnik 29), Samantha Kerr Goals : Kennedy 47, Kerr 81 |
2 | - | 0 | Japan Chika Hirao, Risa Shimizu, Mizuho Sakaguchi (Hina Sugita 72), Shiori Miyake, Aya Sameshima, Saori Ariyoshi, Emi Nakajima (Rika Masuya 46), Rin Sumida (Narumi Miura 46), Kumi Yokoyama (Mana Iwabuchi 46), Yui Hasegawa (Nahomi Kawasumi 86), Mina Tanaka (Yuika Sugasawa 46) |
| Referee : Katja Koroleva (USA) Attendance : 11922 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Asako Takakura (Japan) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia were testing their squad depth and the French found themselves dominating the play but finding Arnold in goal tricky to pass. It took until the second half after a goalkeeping error for the French to get their well deserved goal and in the dying miuntes an errant Simon pass across the back was intercepted and dispatched by Le Sommer for a much more emphatic close to the game. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 5 | Venue : Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne | |||
| France Sarah Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard, Griedge Mbock Bathy, Julie Debever (Marion Torrent 75), Kadidiatou Diani (Emelyne Laurent 70), Amel Majri, Charlotte Bilbault, Amandine Henry (Élise Bussaglia 10), Gaetane Thiney (Kenza Dali 76), Valerie Gauvin, Eugenie Le Sommer Goals : Le Sommer 56, 90 |
2 | - | 0 | Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Stephanie Catley, Clare Polkinghorne, Larissa Crummer (Aivi Luik 62), Chloe Logarzo, Ellie Carpenter, Tameka Butt (Amy Sayer 82), Elise Kellond-Knight, Kyah Simon, Caitlin Foord (Emily Gielnik 73), Lisa De Vanna (Mary Fowler 73) |
| Referee : Ivana Martincic (Croatia) Attendance : 10815 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Corinne Diacre (France) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| While the Matildas were outplayed in this game the only goal against them, again, came from a defensive error and despite the Lionesses scoring another goal incorrectly called offside, had the ball not quite over the line and 2 reasonable shouts for a penalty turned down it was Australia who scored the only other goal as Claire Polkinghorne arrived late in the box and put her header betwen the keepers legs from a Kellond-Knight corner. Never say Die Matildas! This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : October 9 | Venue : Craven Cottage, London | |||
| England Mary Earps, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Stephanie Houghton, Abbie McManus (Leah Williamson 86), Jordan Nobbs, Beth Mead (Nikita Parris 62), Keira Walsh, Lucy Staniforth (Rachel Daly 63), Toni Duggan, Francesca Kirby (Fara Williams 76) Goal : Kirby 21 |
1 | - | 1 | Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Amy Sayer (Emily Gielnik 55), Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo (Alex Chidiac 81), Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord, Lisa De Vanna (Mary Fowler 66), Tameka Butt, Ellie Carpenter, Princess Ibini (Larissa Crummer 66) Goal : Polkinghorne 84 |
| Referee : Florence Guillemin (France) Attendance : 6068 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Phil Neville (England) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Despite this being only a preparatory friendly match Australia were keen to win to ensure their top seeding allocation in the World Cup. This result puts that at risk. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : November 10 | Venue : Penrith Stadium, Sydney | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Ellie Carpenter, Elise Kellond-Knight, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway (Alanna Kennedy 67), Emily van Egmond, Lisa De Vanna (Katrina Lee Gorry 67), Tameka Butt, Chloe Logarzo (Emily Gielnik 82), Caitlin Foord, Samantha Kerr Goals : van Egmond 9pk, 90pk |
2 | - | 3 | Chile Christiane Endler, Su Helen Galaz (Ana Gutierrez 89), Geraldine Leyton, Carla Guerrero, Camila Saez, Karen Araya (Rocio Soto 83), Paloma Lopez, Francisca Lara, Maria Jose Urrutia (Maria Jose Rojas 51), Daniela Zamora, Yanara Aedo (Yessenia Huenteo 86) Goals : Lara 20, Guerrero 48, Huenteo 89 |
| Referee : Rebecca Durcau (Australia) Attendance : 15185 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Jose Letelier (Chile) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Having been frustrated by Chile's methodical play and outstanding keeper for a game and a half Australia finally unlocked the defence and went on a scoring spree to run out comfortable winners. This was a friendly match. | ||||
| Played : November 13 | Venue : Newcastle International Sports Centre | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Gema Simon (Emily Gielnik 63), Clare Polkinghorne, Alanna Kennedy (Laura Alleway 90), Tameka Butt, Caitlin Foord, Elise Kellond-Knight (Princess Ibini 87), Emily van Egmond, Chloe Logarzo (Alexandra Chidiac 73), Samantha Kerr (Michelle Heyman 86) Goals : Kerr 52, Foord 54, 67, 88, Gielnik 69 |
5 | - | 0 | Chile Christiane Endler, Su Helen Galaz, Geraldine Leyton (Nichol Sanhueza 76), Carla Guerrero, Camila Saez, Karen Araya, Paloma Lopez, Francisca Lara, Daniela Zamora (Barbara Santibanez 71), Maria Jose Rojas, Yanara Aedo (Yessenia Huenteo 69) |
| Referee : Yujeong Kim (South Korea) Attendance : 12649 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Jose Letelier (Chile) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||